How are you handling the consistent heat waves this summer? Is your central air conditioning system running on its last leg?

The truth is that the average life of a central air conditioning system can vary. On average cooling units built in the 1970s and 1980s can last 7-15 years, give or take depending on a few factors;

Temperatures (indoors/outdoors)

Frequency of use

Frequency of maintenance

Cleanliness of the unit

The climate can affect the lifespan of your A/C unit as it will increase the intensity of use. During heat waves such as the one in Southern Ontario that we’ve been experiencing, your unit has to work harder. Fortunately for Ontario the average summer temperatures range from 22 – 28 degrees Celsius and this summer is looking like it will exceed those averages regularly. Even during days of high heat, we recommended that you keep your thermostat at its usual settings. Be sure to proactively close your blinds and window treatments early in the day to reduce the effect of the sun adding to your cooling requirements. Also, in order to help evenly distribute the temperature around the house, turn the thermostat fan to on, rather than auto. This will help keep you comfortable without increasing the frequency of use.

An A/C unit that is rarely serviced, if at all, may only last 7 to 10 years. Whereas regularly cared for systems can last anywhere from 15-25 years. So take the time to care for your system.

In this economy, most of us are interested in saving money, and conserving energy too. Cleaning your HVAC units seasonally can do both.